There are around 500 different types of primula worldwide, a small number of which are native to Germany. For a simplified purchase decision, the following is an overview, sorted according to the respective growth height.

In a nutshell

  • most primrose species are small
  • mostly spring bloomers
  • whether for tubs, pots or garden beds - suitable primroses are available for every need
  • Primroses also known as cowslips

Primrose species with growth heights of up to ten centimeters

Cushion Cowslip (Primula x pruhoniciana)

Primula x pruhoniciana 'Lady Ferguson'
  • Growth: cushion-like and -forming
  • Growth width: 15 to 20 centimeters
  • Height of growth: four to eight centimetres
  • flower: plate-shaped
  • Flower color: white, purple
  • Flowering time: March to April
  • Soil: loamy-sandy, rich in humus
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: evergreen, ground-covering
  • Popular varieties: Primula x pruhoniciana 'Easter Greeting', 'Snow Pillow' and 'Wanda White', which reaches up to 15 centimeters in height

Cowslip (Primula rosea)

  • Growth: rosette-like
  • Growth width: 15 to 20 centimeters
  • Growth height: three to ten centimeters
  • Flower: simple, umbel-shaped
  • Flower color: mainly pink and red tones
  • Flowering time: March to April
  • Soil: likes boggy, loamy-sandy, contains humus
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Specialties: large flowers, ideal for planting along banks, deciduous, slightly fragrant
  • Popular variety: Primula rosea 'Gigas' with purple-red flowers

Stemless Cowslip (Primula vulgaris)

  • Growth: rosette and cushion-like, clump-forming
  • Growth width: 15 to 20 centimeters
  • Height of growth: between three and eight centimetres
  • Flower: simple, bowl-shaped
  • Flower color: violet, yellow, orange, red, pink, white, multicolored
  • Flowering time: March to April
  • Soil: loamy and sandy, rich in humus, fresh
  • Location: partial shade
  • Special features: evergreen, pleasantly fragrant, one of the smallest and best-known types of primula

Carpet primroses (Primula juliae)

  • Growth: creeping, ground covering
  • Growth width: 2.5 to five centimeters
  • Growth height: five to ten centimeters
  • Flower: simple
  • Flower colour: depending on the variety, violet-red to mauve-blue, yellow center
  • Flowering time: February to April
  • Soil: permeable, moist, does not tolerate waterlogging, pH value: acidic to neutral
  • Location: partial shade
  • Special features: perennial, hardy
  • Popular varieties: 'Blue Horizon' with purple flowers, 'Wanda' with pink flowers, light blue 'Blue Julianas'

Height of growth up to 20 centimeters

Alpine Auricula (Primula x pubescens)

  • Growth: upright, rosette-like, clump-forming
  • Growth width: 20 to 25 centimeters
  • Growth height: 15 to 20 centimeters
  • Flower: simple, umbel-shaped
  • Flower color: depending on the variety, dark violet, crimson-red, white, yellow, two-tone, all with a cream-colored center
  • Flowering time: April to June
  • Soil: fresh, well drained, poor in humus, likes rocky
  • Location: sun
  • Special features: not suitable as a container plant, evergreen, hardy
  • Other popular varieties: Alpine Auricula 'Nanni' in purple-red, Alpine Auricula 'Alois' with a white flower, yellow center and black flower edge, Primula x pubescens 'Vroni'

Notice: Almost all primrose species have poisonous plant parts. Although classified as slightly toxic, it should always be kept out of the reach of small children and pets.

Cowslip (Primula veris)

  • Habit: basal leaf rosette, upright, clumpy
  • Growth width: 20 to 30 centimeters
  • Growth height: ten to 20 centimeters
  • Flower: simple, umbel-shaped
  • Flower color: deep yellow
  • Flowering time: April to May
  • Soil: dry to fresh, permeable, rich in humus, pH value: between neutral and rich in lime
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: ideal as a container plant, deciduous, has a delicate scent
  • Other varieties available in different colors and flowering until June

Cowslip (Primula elatior subsp. elatior)

  • Growth: rosette-like, upright plant stalks, clump-forming
  • Growth width: between 20 and 30 centimeters
  • Height of growth: between ten and 20 centimeters
  • Flower: simple, umbel-shaped
  • Flower color: sulphur-like yellow
  • Flowering time: March to April
  • Soil: loamy, rich in humus, fresh to moist
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Specialties: slightly fragrant, deciduous, hardy

Height of growth up to 30 centimeters

Poison primrose (Primula obconica)

  • Growth: upright, herbaceous
  • Growth width: 2.5 to five centimeters
  • Growth heights up to 25 centimeters
  • Flowers: umbel-like, double, simple or ruffled depending on the variety,
  • Flowering period: between March and June
  • Flower color: white, pink or light purple
  • Location: bright to shady
  • Special features: very popular as a pot plant, do not hibernate below 10 degrees Celsius, one of the most flowering primrose species, can cause contact allergies

Globe Primrose (Primula denticulata)

  • Habit: rosette-like, sprawling, clump-forming, dense, upright stems
  • Growth width: 15 to 20 centimeters
  • Height of growth: between 15 and 25 centimeters
  • Flower: simple, ball-shaped
  • Flower color: Available in numerous colors
  • Flowering time: March to May
  • Soil: fresh to moist, permeable, rich in humus and nutrients, likes to contain loam and sand
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features hardy, bright white flower balls, deciduous
  • Popular varieties with growth heights of up to 30 centimeters: Globe primrose 'Grandiflora' with violet flowers, Globe primrose 'Rubin' with deep purple-red flowers, Primula denticulata 'Alba' with white flowers

Siebold's primrose (Primula sieboldii)

  • Growth: persistent, basal, rosette-like
  • Growth width: three to five centimeters
  • Height of growth: between ten to 30 centimeters
  • Flower: umbel-shaped
  • Flowering time: between April and May
  • Flower color: white, pink or red
  • Soil: loose, loamy, rich in humus
  • Location: partial shade
  • Special features: hardy, pleasantly fragrant, suitable for keeping in tubs
  • Popular varieties: 'Cohsiboro' with purple flowers, 'Hinomaru' with crimson flowers, 'Miyono Homare' with light pink flowers, 'Yubi Sugata' with light blue flowers and 'Snowflakes' with snow-white flowers

Height of growth up to 45 centimeters

lilac primrose / bride's primrose (Primula malacoides)

  • Growth: rosette-like
  • Growth width: ten to 30 centimeters
  • Growth height: 30 to 45 centimeters
  • Flower: simple
  • Flowering time: December to March, flowering from March if sown in autumn
  • Flower color: white, pink or purple
  • Soil: rich in humus, loose, permeable
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Special features: sensitive to frost, some annual varieties, perennial varieties are evergreen and sensitive to frost

Orchid primula (Primula vialii)

  • Growth: rosette-like
  • Growth width: ten to 20 centimeters
  • Growth height: 30 to 35 centimeters
  • flower: spike-shaped
  • Flowering period: between May and July
  • Flower color: red-purple with dark red calyx
  • Soil: low in lime, permeable, fresh and rich in humus
  • Location: partially shaded
  • Special features: perennial, hardy, colorful flower candles
  • Very popular variety: Orchid Primula 'Red Hot Poker'

Height of growth up to 60 centimeters

Cowslip (Primula japonica)

Bulley's Cowslip (Primula bulleyana)
  • Growth: upright, basal crest
  • Growth width: 20 to 30 centimeters
  • Height of growth: between 40 and 60 centimeters
  • Flower: simple, umbel-shaped
  • Flower color: pink, red, orange tones
  • Flowering period: May to July
  • Soil: rich in humus, loamy, moist, fresh
  • Location: partial shade
  • Special features: deciduous, hardy, ideal as a cut flower, not fragrant, suitable for water stains
  • Popular varieties: Primula japonica 'Millers Crimson' in dark crimson-red with a black eye centre, 'Appleblossom' with delicate pink flowers, orange-flowered 'Bulley's Cowslip' (Primula bulleyana)

Height of growth up to 130 centimeters

Tibetan primrose/summer primrose (Primula florindae)

  • Growth: upright, rosette-like, persistent, herbaceous
  • Growth width: 30 to 40 centimeters
  • Height of growth: between 30 and 120 centimetres, sometimes up to more than 130 centimetres
  • Flowers: ovoid to heart-shaped, funnel-shaped, hanging
  • Flower color: (lemon) yellow
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Soil: moist, preferably swampy, rich in humus
  • Position: Sun, semi-shade, also tolerates shade, likes it cool
  • Special features: hardy, rare summer bloomer among the primrose species, very insect-friendly, suitable as cut flowers, hardy to minus 17 degrees Celsius, wonderfully fragrant

Notice: The Tibetan/summer primrose is the only specimen among the primrose species that can grow to over a meter. However, this requires optimal site conditions and needs-oriented care.

frequently asked Questions

Is the tall Tibetan primrose suitable for balcony boxes?

The Tibetan primrose needs a lot of space to be able to spread, because only then does it shoot up. Classic window boxes usually do not have the dimensions required to allow a Tibetan primrose to thrive to its maximum height. It would remain significantly smaller, but certainly be survivable. However, cultivation in a tub or garden bed is recommended to let the full beauty of this primrose species develop.

Are tall and low growing primulas pruned equally?

No. In the case of the small primrose species from the overview, only the withered flowers are normally cut off. High-growing specimens have long flower stalks, which should be cut off after the flowering period so that the plants sprout vigorously again.

Why doesn't my primrose reach its maximum height?

All primrose species only reach their maximum height if the soil and site conditions meet their requirements. In the overview you will find relevant information about the criteria. Care needs should also be considered.

Category:

Garden plants